Trade, security to be focus of Mohammed-Modi talks

His Highness Shaikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, right, shakes hands with Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India at the Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in August

Boosting trade ties by ramping up UAE's investment in India and stepping up defence and security cooperation in the wake of rising threat of Daesh are set to be the major focus of talks between His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhbai and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on Thursday.It is expected that the UAE would like to invest significantly in India's energy and infrastructure sectors and India on its part has been encouraging the investment especially in its infrastructure sector including railways, ports and roads.
Joint production of defence equipment is another key area where both the countries are working hard. Under the initiative, UAE may make investment for manufacturing such equipment in India and get the products' supply.
"The security cooperation between the two countries has been exemplary. There is concrete meeting of minds on the issue," said Anil Wadhwa, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs.
Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed is accompanied by a power-packed delegation which includes several top ministers and over 60 business tycoons and CEOs of top companies.
President Pranab Mukherjee will host a private lunch for Shaikh Mohammed on Thursday, in a reflection of the importance the government has accorded to his visit.Wadhwa said he does not recall such gesture by the President in recent times. The Crown Prince will also have a working dinner with Modi on Thursday.A number of pacts on a wide range of sectors like nuclear energy, oil, IT, aerospace and railways are expected to be signed today after talks between Modi and Shaikh Mohammed.
After the visit to New Delhi of the Amir of Qatar, Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in March last year, Shaikh Mohammed is an important leader to visit the country from the Gulf region, home to seven million Indians who are a major source of remittances.
"The visit takes place after we have decided to elevate our relationship to comprehensive strategic partnership during our Prime Minister's visit to the UAE in August last year," said Wadhwa. Shaikh Mohammed will travel to India's financial capital, Mumbai, on Friday where he will visit the Bombay Stock Exchange and interact with select industry leaders before departing.
Wadhwa added that the UAE has initiated a Mars mission for 2020 and India can assist that country with ISRO willing to help.

• India